= Phalanx =

Learn how to train and upgrade the powerful Phalanx unit in Age of Empires IV, including costs, stats, and historical context for this iconic Greek formation.

Alright, let's talk about the Phalanx! This is a solid upgrade for your Greek infantry in Age of Empires IV. Think of it as the next step up from the Hoplite, giving you more punch and better protection on the battlefield.

Before you can even think about training Phalanxes, you'll need to have your Town Center, Barracks, Stable, and Academy built. You also need to have researched the basic Phalanx upgrade itself. Once that's done, you can start churning them out from the Academy.

Phalanx Unit Stats & Costs

Here's the breakdown:

• Upgrade Cost: 300 Food, 100 Gold
• Cost to Train: 60 Food, 40 Gold
• Hit Points: 120
• Attack: 20
• Armor: 7
• Range: 0 (Melee unit)
• Speed: Slow
• Upgrade Of: Hoplite
• Train At: Academy

Phalanx vs. Hoplite

The Phalanx is a straight upgrade from the Hoplite. You're getting more attack strength and better armor, making them tougher to take down and more effective in combat. Keep in mind, you can further upgrade the Phalanx into the Centurion later on for even more power.

Boosting Your Phalanx's Performance

Want to make your Phalanxes even scarier? You can research technologies that boost their stats:

• Attack Strength: Research Toolworking, Metalworking, and Metallurgy.
• Armor: Research Leather Armor, Scale Armor, and Chain Mail.
• Piercing Armor: Research the Bronze Shield and Iron Shield upgrades.
• Speed: The Aristocracy technology will give them a speed boost, which is super helpful since they're naturally slow.

A Little History Lesson

It's pretty cool that Age of Empires IV includes units with such rich history! The phalanx itself was a legendary Greek heavy infantry formation that was dominant for centuries, from around 800 B.C. until the Romans eventually conquered Greece. The Greek soldiers, called hoplites, would form a tight square formation, able to shift directions quickly. Imagine a wall of spear points moving towards you – pretty intimidating, right?

These guys carried long spears, sometimes up to 12 feet, and wore bronze helmets, breastplates (cuirasses), and greaves, along with a large shield. It wasn't just soldiers; all free men in Greek city-states trained in this formation. The discipline and training were so ingrained in their culture that their infantry was considered the best in the Western world for a long time. It took new combined arms tactics to finally make the phalanx obsolete in battle. Even Alexander the Great used it effectively in his campaigns, though by then it was part of a more combined force.